Are you a young person in South Africa looking for employment, work experience, skills development, business funding or opportunities to build your future?

You may be eligible for several government and government-supported youth programmes designed to help young South Africans move from unemployment to opportunity.

From the National Youth Service (NYS) and SA Youth to NYDA funding, internships, learnerships and entrepreneurship programmes, there are different pathways available depending on your age, qualifications, location and goals.

In this guide, NextStepZA explains some of the most important government youth programmes in South Africa, who they are aimed at and where to look for opportunities.

Important: Programmes open and close at different times. Always check the official programme website or government department before applying.

🇿🇦 What Government Youth Programmes Are Available in South Africa?

Government youth programmes can provide different types of support, including:

•  Employment opportunities

•  Work experience

•  Skills development

•  Learnerships and internships

•  Business funding

•  Entrepreneurship support

•  Community service opportunities

•  Career development

•  Training and mentorship

Not every programme is a permanent job. Many are designed to help young people gain the experience, skills and networks they need to move into long-term employment or entrepreneurship.

1. National Youth Service (NYS)

The National Youth Service Programme is one of South Africa’s major youth development initiatives.

The programme gives young people opportunities to participate in community service while gaining practical experience, occupational skills and exposure that can improve their future employment prospects.

The NYDA provides a secretariat function for the National Youth Service.

What does the NYS offer?

Depending on the programme phase and opportunity, young people may receive:

• Community service experience

• Skills development

• Work exposure

• A stipend for eligible opportunities

• Experience that can strengthen their CV

In June 2026, government announced Phase V of the National Youth Service, which aims to create 100,000 paid service opportunities for unemployed young people across all nine provinces.

Because opportunities can be released in phases and locations, applicants should regularly check official announcements and the SA Youth platform.

2. SA Youth

If you are a young job seeker, SA Youth should be one of the platforms you check regularly.

SA Youth is a free national platform that connects young people with opportunities such as:

• Jobs

• Part-time work

• Learnerships

• Volunteering

• Work experience

• Education opportunities

• Youth employment programmes

You can also use the platform to prepare for the world of work and access resources designed to improve your employability.

Who should use SA Youth?

SA Youth is particularly useful for young people who are:

• Looking for their first job

• Unemployed

• Looking for work experience

• Interested in learnerships

• Interested in volunteering

• Looking for youth employment programmes

Tip: Keep your SA Youth profile updated and check regularly because opportunities can change.

3. Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI)

The Presidential Youth Employment Intervention (PYEI) is a major government initiative aimed at helping young people transition from learning to earning.

It brings together different interventions designed to create pathways into employment, work experience and economic opportunities.

The programme has supported large numbers of earning opportunities for young people and continues to form part of government’s response to youth unemployment.

Some opportunities connected to the broader youth employment ecosystem can be accessed through platforms such as SA Youth.

4. NYDA Grant Programme

Are you interested in starting or growing a business?

The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) provides financial and non-financial support to qualifying young entrepreneurs through its Grant Programme.

The programme is designed to help young entrepreneurs establish or grow businesses.

Support can include:

• Business-related financial assistance

• Business development support

• Mentorship and guidance

• Entrepreneurial development

The NYDA Grant Programme is particularly worth exploring if you have a business idea or an existing youth-owned business.

What should you prepare?

Before applying for business funding, make sure you have a clear understanding of:

• Your business idea

• Products or services

• Target market

• Pricing

• Expected costs

• Business operations

• Financial projections

NextStepZA Tip: Don’t apply for funding simply because you need money. Build a strong business case showing how the funding will help the business become sustainable.

5. NYDA Voucher Programme

The NYDA also offers a Voucher Programme that provides qualifying young entrepreneurs with access to business development services.

The programme can help young business owners access support such as:

• Business management assistance

• Business planning

• Financial management support

• Marketing assistance

• Other approved business development services

Eligibility requirements apply, including age and youth ownership requirements.

6. Youth Challenge Fund

The Youth Challenge Fund (YCF) is a youth entrepreneurship support programme under the Department of Small Business Development.

It is intended to support youth-owned start-ups and enterprises while promoting:

• Entrepreneurship

• Digital skills

• Business growth

• Job creation

• Economic participation

This is an important programme to watch if you want to become a job creator rather than only a job seeker.

 Always check the latest official eligibility criteria and application windows before applying.

7. Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP)

The Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) provides temporary work opportunities through government and public-sector projects.

Opportunities can involve areas such as:

• Community services

• Environmental projects

• Infrastructure

• Maintenance

• Administration

• Social services

EPWP opportunities are usually temporary and should not be confused with permanent government employment.

However, they can provide valuable work exposure and income while you continue searching for long-term opportunities.

8. Government Internships

Government departments regularly advertise internships for graduates and other qualifying applicants.

Internships can give young people the opportunity to gain practical workplace experience related to their qualifications.

Fields can include:

• Administration

• Finance

• Human Resources

• Information Technology

• Communications

• Engineering

• Social Sciences

• Public Management

• Health

• Environmental studies

 Check individual government department websites and official vacancy platforms for current internship advertisements.

9. Government Learnerships and Skills Programmes

Learnerships combine theoretical learning with practical workplace experience.

Government departments and public-sector organisations may advertise learnerships, while SETAs also support skills development programmes across different industries.

Learnership opportunities can be particularly useful if you:

• Have Matric but little work experience

• Want to gain practical skills

• Want to enter a specific industry

• Need workplace experience for your CV

10. Labour Activation and Employment Programmes

The Department of Employment and Labour also supports programmes designed to improve access to employment and skills opportunities.

These can include employment activation initiatives, training and pathways intended to help unemployed people become more employable.

Because programmes and application processes can change, always check the latest official announcements before applying.

What If I Don’t Have Work Experience?

Don’t let a lack of experience stop you from applying.

Many youth programmes are specifically designed to help people gain their first experience.

Consider applying for:

• National Youth Service

• Learnerships

• Internships

• EPWP opportunities

• SA Youth opportunities

• Volunteer programmes

• Entry-level jobs

• Skills development programmes

Your first opportunity does not have to be your dream job.

Sometimes the first step is simply getting experience, skills and confidence.

What If I Don’t Have a University Degree?

You can still find opportunities.

South Africa has programmes aimed at people with different education levels.

Depending on the opportunity, you may find programmes for:

• Grade 10

• Grade 11

• Matric

• TVET students

• College graduates

• University graduates

• People with certificates

• People with diplomas

• Young entrepreneurs

Always read the specific requirements because eligibility differs from programme to programme.

Documents You Should Have Ready

Before applying for youth programmes, prepare a digital folder containing commonly requested documents.

These may include:

• South African ID

• Updated CV

• Matric certificate

• Latest academic results

• Qualifications

• Proof of residence

• Proof of banking details where required

• Business documents for funding applications

• Other documents specifically requested by the programme

 NextStepZA Tip

Save your documents as clearly named PDF files.

For example:

Lumka_Makwarela_CV.pdf

Lumka_ID.pdf

Lumka_Matric_Certificate.pdf

This makes applying much faster when several opportunities open at the same time.

Beware of Youth Programme Scams

Unfortunately, scammers sometimes advertise fake jobs, learnerships and government programmes.

Remember:

❌ Don’t pay someone to “secure” a government job.

❌ Don’t send your banking PIN or password to an applicant.

❌ Be suspicious of WhatsApp messages promising guaranteed employment.

❌ Don’t assume an opportunity is legitimate simply because it uses a government logo.

✅ Check the opportunity on an official government, NYDA or recognised programme platform.

✅ Read the original advertisement carefully.

✅ Never pay an application fee unless the official organisation clearly states that one applies.

Where Can Young South Africans Find Opportunities?

Make these platforms part of your regular job-search routine:

🇿🇦 SA Youth

Look for youth employment, work experience, learnership and other opportunities.

🏢 NYDA

Check youth development, entrepreneurship, grants, training and National Youth Service opportunities.

🏛️ Government Departments

Visit official department websites for internships, learnerships and vacancies.

🎓 SETAs

Check relevant Sector Education and Training Authorities for learnerships and skills programmes.

💼 NextStepZA

Follow NextStepZA for jobs, bursaries, learnerships, internships, funding opportunities and career guidance.

 Final Thoughts

Being unemployed can feel like you’re standing still while everyone else is moving forward.

But there are different pathways available to young South Africans — and the key is knowing where to look and how to apply.

You don’t need to wait for one perfect opportunity.

You can apply for a learnership while searching for a job. You can look for an internship while building your skills. You can explore NYDA support while developing a business idea. You can use SA Youth to look for work experience.

Every opportunity can become a Next Step.

At NextStepZA, our goal is to make it easier for young South Africans to discover those opportunities.

 Stay Connected With NextStepZA

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